Soccer Players The Best Soccer Players from Germany

List Rules Soccer players / footballers from Germany or played on the German national team.

In your dream Germany national soccer team, which of the best German soccer players of all time would you pick? Would you choose newer players such as Mesut Özil or ones from years past, such as Franz Beckenbauer? Compared to many other countries, drafting top soccer players from Germany is quite easy as there are many to choose from. Look at the list of top footballers from Hungary for instance and many of the names there are from decades past and aren’t very well known. In fact, many of the best footballers of all time are from Germany. So to determine who truly is the best German soccer player of all time, soccer fans have ranked their favorites below.

Vote up your favorite German soccer players or add any you feel are missing from the list. If you're searching for a particular famous German soccer player you can use the search box at the top of the list to find who you're looking for. Photos and details such as positions played have been provided when available.

On this list, you’ll see legendary footballers like Franz Beckenbauer, as well as modern German stars like Thomas Muller. What you won’t see however, are football players such as Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. So if you’ve ever wondered who were the best German soccer players of all time were, just look at the list below to find out.

list ordered by

1

1,498 550

Franz BeckenbauerDefender, Sweeper Franz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser because of his elegant style; his leadership; his first name "Franz", and his dominance on ...more

2

1,743 590

Manuel NeuerGoalkeeper Manuel Peter Neuer is a German footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bayern Munich and the German national team. He has been described as a "sweeper-keeper" because of his unique ...more

3

1,210 427

Gerd MüllerForward Gerhard "Gerd" Müller is a German retired footballer. A prolific striker renowned for his clinical finishing, especially inside the penalty box, he is regarded as one of the ...more

4

1,057 407

Lothar MatthäusDefender, Sweeper, Midfielder Lothar Herbert Matthäus is a German football manager and former player. After captaining West Germany to victory in the 1990 FIFA World Cup, he was named European Footballer of the Year. In ...more

5

1,481 621

Arminius added Thomas MüllerForward, Midfielder Thomas Müller is a German footballer who plays for Bayern Munich and the German national team. Müller plays as a midfielder or forward, and has been deployed in a variety of attacking ...more

6

1,174 416

Miroslav KloseForward Miroslav Josef Klose is a German professional footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Lazio. Klose is best known for his performances with the German national team. He was part of the ...more

7

1,241 373

Philipp LahmDefender Philipp Lahm is a German professional footballer who plays as a full back or defensive midfielder for Bayern Munich and formerly for the German national team. He is the captain of his club, ...more

8

883 335

Oliver KahnGoalkeeper Oliver Rolf Kahn is a former German football goalkeeper. He started his career in the Karlsruher SC Junior team in 1975. Twelve years later, Kahn made his debut match in the professional squad. ...more

9

596 370

Karl-Heinz RummeniggeForward, Midfielder Karl-Heinz "Kalle" Rummenigge is a German former football striker. His nicknames are "King Kalle". He had his greatest career success with German club Bayern Munich, where he ...more

10

682 383

Jürgen KlinsmannForward Jürgen Klinsmann is a German football manager and former player who is currently the head coach of the United States national team. As a player, Klinsmann played for several prominent clubs ...more

11

1,078 385

Bastian SchweinsteigerPlaymaker, Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is a German footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the German national team, serving as captain. A right-footed player, he usually ...more

12

1,084 244

Toni KroosMidfielder Toni Kroos is a German footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid and the German national team as a midfielder. A member of Bayern Munich's first team at the age of 17, Kroos became a ...more

13

1,318 450

Mesut ÖzilMidfielder Mesut Özil is a German footballer who plays for English club Arsenal and the German national team. Özil has been a youth national team member since 2006, and a member of the German ...more

14

403 267

Sepp MaierGoalkeeper Josef Dieter "Sepp" Maier is a German former professional football goalkeeper. His nickname was "Die Katze von Anzing" for his fast reflexes.

15

812 250

bluepoison52 added Marco ReusForward, Midfielder Marco Reus is a German professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder, winger or second striker for German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and the Germany national football team. ...more

16

400 223

Paul BreitnerDefender, Midfielder Paul Breitner is a former German footballer. One of Germany's most controversial players, he earned 48 caps for West Germany. He was known for his partnerships with Franz Beckenbauer and Berti ...more

17

379 206

Rudi VöllerForward Rudolf "Rudi" Völler is a former German international footballer, and a former manager of the German national team. He won the FIFA World Cup in 1990 as a player. Along with Franz ...more

18

343 239

Fritz WalterForward Friedrich "Fritz" Walter was a German footballer. In his time with the German national team, he made 61 caps and scored 33 goals. He usually played as an inside forward or attacking

19

635 208

Michael BallackMidfielder Michael Ballack is a retired German footballer. He is among the top goal scorers in the history of the German national team. Ballack wore the number 13 shirt for every team he has played for ...more

20

367 233

Andreas BrehmeDefender, Midfielder Andreas "Andy" Brehme is a German football coach and former football defender. He is best known for scoring the winning goal for Germany in the 1990 FIFA World Cup Final against ...more

21

274 190

Matthias SammerDefender, Sweeper, Midfielder Matthias Sammer is a retired German footballer and coach who is now working as sporting director of FC Bayern Munich. He played as a defensive midfielder, and later in his career as a sweeper. ...more

22

546 338

Chris Abraham added Mario GötzeForward, Midfielder Mario Götze is a German footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga. In addition to his favoured role as a number 10, Götze is capable of ...more

23

349 237

Uwe SeelerForward Uwe Seeler is a former German footballer and football official. He played for Hamburger SV and also made 72 appearances for the West German national team. His grandson Levin Öztunalı ...more

24

478 152

ramzi25589 added Mats HummelsDefender, Midfielder Mats Julian Hummels is a German footballer who plays as a central defender for Borussia Dortmund, for which he is the current captain, and the German national team. He came through the Bayern ...more

25

423 209

Lukas PodolskiForward, Midfielder Lukas Josef Podolski is a German footballer who plays as a forward for Italian club Inter Milan, on loan from English club Arsenal, and for the Germany national team. He is a left-footed ...more

26

125 93

Tom Šmíd added Pierre LittbarskiForward, Midfielder Pierre Michael Littbarski is a German football manager and former player. He was mainly a winger or attacking midfielder and is best known for his brilliant dribbling abilities. He was a FIFA ...more

27

288 87

Jérôme BoatengDefender Jérôme Agyenim Boateng is a German footballer who currently plays as a defender for Bayern Munich and the Germany national football team. A versatile defender, Boateng primarily is ...more

28

160 146

Günter NetzerPlaymaker, Midfielder Günter Theodor Netzer is a former German football player and team general manager currently working in the media business. As a player, he was considered to be one of the greatest passers ...more

29

139 125

Wolfgang OverathMidfielder Wolfgang Overath is a former West German footballer. A true one-club man, Overath spent his entire professional career at 1. FC Köln. He represented his country three times in World Cup ...more

30

140 131

Bernd SchusterMidfielder Bernhard "Bernd" Schuster is a German football manager most recently in charge of Spanish La Liga side Málaga and a former player. His contract with Málaga CF was ...more

31

123 121

Helmut RahnForward Helmut Rahn, known as Der Boss, was a German football player. He became a legend for having scored the winning goal in the final game of the 1954 FIFA World Cup.

32

190 142

Stefan EffenbergMidfielder Stefan Effenberg is a retired German footballer. A midfielder, he possessed leadership skills, fantastic passing range, powerful shooting ability, physical strength, but also a fearsome and ...more

33

174 124

Oliver BierhoffForward Oliver Bierhoff is a retired German former footballer who scored the first golden goal in the history of major international football, for Germany in the Euro 96 final. A tall, strong and ...more

34

133 117

Thomas HäßlerMidfielder Thomas Jürgen "Icke" Häßler is a former German football midfielder. He is currently assistant coach of Iranian club Padideh. Häßler appeared over 100 times ...more

35

270 140

Mario GomezForward Mario Gómez García is a German footballer who plays as a striker for Fiorentina in the Serie A and the German national team. Gómez joined Fiorentina after spending four ...more

36

149 108

Jürgen KohlerDefender Jürgen Kohler is a World Cup-winning German centre back footballer and manager. Kohler has retired from professional sports, but still occasionally plays for Alemannia Adendorf in the ...more

37

122 106

Berti VogtsDefender Hans-Hubert "Berti" Vogts is a former German footballer. He played for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga his whole professional club career and won the FIFA World Cup ...more

38

71 70

Tom Šmíd added Karl-Heinz SchnellingerDefender Karl-Heinz Schnellinger is a former German footballer. He was one of the world's best defenders for a decade in the 1960s. He was nicknamed the "Volkswagen" for his continuity of ...more

39

167 63

Julian DraxlerMidfielder Julian Draxler is a German professional footballer who plays as a left winger for Schalke 04 and the Germany national football team. He is known for his ability to use both feet, his speed, and ...more

40

185 105

sslim added Sami KhediraMidfielder Sami Khedira is a German footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid and the German national team as a defensive midfielder. Khedira moved to Real Madrid from VfB Stuttgart in 2010. He is ...more

41

108 108

Uli HoeneßForward, Midfielder Ulrich "Uli" Hoeneß is the former president of German football club Bayern Munich and a retired German footballer who played as a forward for club and country. Hoeneß ...more

42

191 141

Per MertesackerDefender Per Mertesacker is a German professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Arsenal. He also played for the German national team but retired in August 2014 after winning the World Cup. ...more

43

153 117

Jens LehmannGoalkeeper Jens Gerhard Lehmann is a German former football goalkeeper. He was voted UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year for the 1996–97 and 2005–06 seasons, and he has been selected for three World Cup ...more

44

75 44

Jupp HeynckesForward Josef "Jupp" Heynckes is a former German football manager and former footballer. As a player, he spent the majority of his career as a striker for Borussia Mönchengladbach in its ...more

45

76 60

Tom Šmíd added Andreas MöllerMidfielder Andreas Möller is a retired German internationalist association footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. He was a playmaker known for his range of passing and goalscoring ability.

46

54 74

Germania added Klaus FischerForward Klaus Fischer is a German former footballer and coach, noted for his bicycle kicks.

47

53 53

Tom Šmíd added Hans-Peter BriegelDefender, Midfielder Hans-Peter Briegel is a former German footballer and manager. One of the most popular German players in his days, Hans-Peter Briegel's original sport was athletics, being successful in various ...more

48

60 62

wimmer68 added Jürgen GrabowskiMidfielder Jürgen Grabowski is a former German footballer. Grabowski, a forward, then he later played as an attacking midfielder or as a winger, started his career with SV Biebrich 1919 and FV ...more

49

118 79

maccarmenate added İlkay GündoğanMidfielder İlkay Gündoğan is a German footballer who plays as a central midfielder for the German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and the Germany national football team, having previously played for ...more

50

93 99

Mario BaslerMidfielder Mario Basler is a German former football winger and current manager, most recently in charge of Rot-Weiß Oberhausen. A dead-ball specialist, Basler scored numerous goals from free-kicks ...more

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List Rules: Soccer players / footballers from Germany or played on the German national team.